Wicklow school scoops Class of the Year Award with Alfie's Aughrim Adventures – an illustrated book by children for children
Tom Clancy, Michael Reeves, Ellie Murnane, Peadar Keegan, Orla Higgins, Rourke Whatley, Cillian Maher, Aedán Dixon, Conor Quinn, and Eirin Fanning of Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. The 5th and 6th class pupils won the Junior Entrepreneur Programme Class of the Year Award for their class creation, Alfie’s Aughrim Adventures, a rhyming and beautifully illustrated children’s book in the style of a treasure hunt.They sold out the 120 copies produced in the first print run and made a profit of €732. PIC CREDIT: JERRY KENNELLY. NO REPRODUCTION FEE
Éabha Cullen, Aedán Dixon and Cameron Byrne of Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. The 5th and 6th class pupils won the Junior Entrepreneur Programme Class of the Year Award for their class creation, Alfie’s Aughrim Adventures, a rhyming and beautifully illustrated children’s book in the style of a treasure hunt.They sold out the 120 copies produced in the first print run and made a profit of €732. PIC CREDIT: JERRY KENNELLY. NO REPRODUCTION FEE
Sophie O'Loughlin of Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. The 5th and 6th class pupils won the Junior Entrepreneur Programme Class of the Year Award for their class creation, Alfie’s Aughrim Adventures, a rhyming and beautifully illustrated children’s book in the style of a treasure hunt.They sold out the 120 copies produced in the first print run and made a profit of €732. PIC CREDIT: JERRY KENNELLY. NO REPRODUCTION FEE
Catarina Amaralrom from Emmet Hickey's 6th class, Greystones Educate Together National School, Greystones, Co. Wicklow who created beautiful bracelets called PC Bracelets. PIC CREDIT: JERRY KENNELLY. NO REPRODUCTION FEE.
Fintan Jansen, Laila Marshall-Baugh, Ella Bonaldi, from Ciara Fagan's 6th class, Greystones Educate Together National School, Greystones, Co. Wicklow who created a dog bandana business called Pucci Pack. PIC CREDIT: JERRY KENNELLY. NO REPRODUCTION FEE.
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Fifth and sixth class pupils of Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, Co Wicklow have been crowned Class of the Year by the Junior Entrepreneur Programme for their idea of creating a children’s guide to their town.
Starting with a simple idea of producing a children's guide to the landmarks of Aughrim, the pupils unleashed their creativity to create a rhyming and beautifully illustrated children's book in the style of a treasure hunt. With an alpaca and an alligator vying to find the hidden treasure, ‘Alfie’s Aughrim Adventures’ is both engaging and entertaining.
The class formed a writing and art team and collaborated closely to produce a book that reaches professional publishing standards. Each child invested €10 of their own money. They sold out of the 120 copies produced in the first print run and made a profit of €732.
It was a timely reminder for the 10 – 12 year old pupils that if you focus on what you love and do good work– in this case, writing and artwork – success will follow. Class teacher, Emma Barriscale, who guided the children through every step of the programme, said she was bowled over by the skills and ingenuity of her pupils.
Other Wicklow schools that featured prominently in JEP in 2022 included Scoil na Coróine Mhuire, Ashford, Co. Wicklow; Greystones Educate Together National School, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; St. Peter's Primary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow; Stratford Lodge National School, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow and Scoil Phádraig Naofa Curtlestown, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. Their businesses ranged from dog bandanas to clever card games.
Managing Director Marie Lynch said: "Participation by schools has returned to close to pre-pandemic levels, and JEP has become a rite of passage for children in many primary schools before they move on to secondary school. Teachers indicate a huge increase in confidence and life skills as well as a strong reinforcement of the primary school curriculum in Maths, English, Art and SPHE.”
Approximately 90,000 pupils have participated in JEP since its inception in 2010. In an exciting development for the programme, Enterprise Ireland has supported JEP in 2021 and 2022 under its Primary Schools Entrepreneurship Initiative, underlining the vital role of entrepreneurship in shaping Ireland's future.
This year 9,000 primary school children launched start-up businesses through the programme.
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